FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US 46

Carrying US 46 over ERIE-LACKAWANNA RAILROAD

0.99 MI EAST OF GSP, Bergen, New Jersey

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
44 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US 46

The US 46 bridge in Bergen, New Jersey carries US 46 over ERIE-LACKAWANNA RAILROAD. It was built in 1936, making it 90 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 3 sections, stretching 46.0 meters (151 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 70,812 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-trafficked tier of New Jersey bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 5/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 43.5 metric tons.

Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.

How US 46 compares

▼ 0.3
Load rating vs New Jersey average (43.8 t)
Top 41%
Higher load rating than 59% of New Jersey bridges
577
Bridges in Bergen · 13 in Poor condition
US 46 43.5 t
New Jersey average 43.8 t

Live comparison across New Jersey.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
55.4 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
30.0
Serviceability /30
23.0
Essentiality /15
4.4
Special reductions
−2.0

FHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.

Condition Ratings

Deck
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Superstructure
5/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
43.5 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.

Structural Details

Year Built
1936
Material
Steel Continuous
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
46.0 m (151 ft)
Deck Width
25.8 m (85 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
70,812 vehicles/day
Structure Number
0220154

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.

How to read this record

US 46 is in the federal Poor condition category. That is a component-based result, not a closure order.

  • NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
  • Understand what Poor condition does and does not mean before drawing conclusions. Poor condition explained
  • Compare US 46 against other structures in Bergen and across New Jersey. New Jersey bridges
  • Noticed visible damage or a safety concern? Report it to the agency that owns the bridge, or call 911 in an emergency. How to report a bridge

Condition codes come straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory and are not a real-time safety judgment. Only the owning agency, a state DOT, county, or other owner, can post, restrict, or close a bridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the condition ratings mean for US 46?

US 46 in Bergen, New Jersey has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 5/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US 46 inspected?

US 46's responsible agency sets its routine interval under FHWA's risk-based inspection rules; this page does not expose the scheduled interval. It carries about 70,812 vehicles per day.

What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 46 is currently shown as Poor condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for US 46?

US 46 has an NBI inventory load rating of 43.5 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US 46?

US 46 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US 46 and does age affect safety?

US 46 was built in 1936, making it 90 years old.

Disclaimer: Bridge condition data is from the FHWA NBI and reflects the last reported inspection. A Poor condition rating is not a live declaration that a bridge is closed or unsafe for travel. For current closure, posting, or safety information, contact the responsible transportation agency.

Data sourced from the Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.